Time actuated dial control for radio receiving sets



July 16, 1935. q PETERSEN v 2,008,108

TIME ACTUATED DIAL CONTROL FOR RADIO RECEIVING SETS Filed May 20,. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NV EN TOR.

July 16, 1935.

c. PETERSEN 2,008,108

TIME ACTUATED DIAL CONTROL FOR RADIO RECEIVING SETS Filed May 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY,

Patented July 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME ACTUATED DIAL CONTROL FOR RADIO RECEIVING SETS 5 Claims.

will turn a variable condenser to various desired settings consecutively at predetermined intervals of time, so that the desired programs from the same or different broadcasting stations will be obtained over prolonged periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a control which may consist of any desired number of units so that the controls, when once set, will operate the variable condenser for long or short periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a control wherein means are provided for manually returning the drum to its initial position, and to mark the position of the drum so that it may immediately be seen when the drum has been returned to its initial position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a control mechanism which is relatively cheap and simple to install and operate. With these and other objects and advantages in view which will become apparent as the speciiication proceeds,. the invention is hereinafter more fully described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of the invention connected to a conventional variable condenser, and also showing a diagram of the preferred arrangement of wiring.

Figure 2 is a front view partly in section, and is taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fi ure 1. Figure5 is an enlarged detail partly in section showing some of the dials and contact discs, and Figure 6 is an enlarged view on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a conventional form of variable condenser on which an 7. ordinary dial 2 is mounted on the condenser shaft 3. Secured to the latter are one set of plates 4, and 5 denotes the stationary plates. For the successful operation of my device in its preferred form it is necessary that the shaft 3 be free to rotate repeatedly in the same direction. It is 1 on the shaft 3 which is constantly wiped by brushes 8. 9 indicates a second wire to the stationary plates 5. The wires 6 and 9 are connected in any desired manner to other portions of the receiving set in a conventional manner.

Suitably mounted as in bearings l0 and H is a spindle l2 which is in axial alignment with the shaft 3, and connected thereto by an insulating coupling [3. Fixed on the spindle 12 are a plurality of spaced dials l4 having markings Ma thereon inalignment with the markings 2a on the dial 2. The markings 2a and 14a refer, of course, to the kilocycle indicating marks by which the condenser is adjusted to receive signals on different wave lengths.

Mounted around the spindle l2 one adjacent each dial I 4 are a plurality of contact discs l5. The latter are preferably split radially and are made of resilient conducting material. These discs are so mounted on the spindle that they engage it frictionally but may be independently 20 rotated provided the spindle is held while they are turned. Each disc l5 has an inturned extremity 1.5a which lies immediately in front of the dial M with which it cooperates, and also an outwardly projecting extremity l5b through which a contact may be made in a manner hereinafter described. In the present embodiment the extremities I5a and l5b of each plate are positioned at substantially 180 degrees to one another.

On the spindle [2 a contact ring I6 is arranged, and fixed on the said spindle is a pulley H to receive a belt l8 which also passes around a second pulley l9 fixed on the shaft of a motor 20.

A contact drum 2| is suitably supported in bearings as shown at 22 and 23, and is arranged substantially parallel with the spindle I2 and preferably on the same horizontal plane. Projecting from the periphery of the drum 2| and arranged progressively around the latter are a plurality of resilient contact members 24 one being adapted to engage each of the disc extremities [51). Fixed at one extremity of the drum is a ratchet wheel 25, and at the other extremity of the drum is a contact ring 26. Projecting outwardly beyond the latter is an extension shaft 21a integral with the drum 2| on the outer extremity of which a knob 21?) is provided so that the drum may be turned manually. On the outer face of the knob 2lb an indicating mark 2lc is provided, which, when the contact member 24 at the left end of the drum 2| is in position to engage its disc 15, is in alignment with a corresponding indicating mark 2le provided on the end wall of the cabinet A.

27 designates a source of power and 28 is a clock of any preferred type. The purpose of the latter is to provide a predetermined time lapse between the making of contacts in a manner hereinafter described. 011 the clock face a plurality of contacts 29 are provided which are wiped at intervals, in the present instance fifteen minute intervals, by the minute hand 3!? to which a lead 3! is suitably connected.

32 denotes a magnet to one terminal of which a lead 33 is connected. The latter terminates at the clock face contacts 29. the magnet 32 is connected by a lead 34 to the source of power 27. The other terminal of the latter is connected to the lead 3! and thus to the minute hand 30. I

Arranged adjacentthe magnet 32 so as to be moved axially thereby is a plunger which is horizontally slidable in a bearing 55. A dog 35 is pivotally supported by the plunger 5Q, and'a spring 36 is so arranged as to tend to force the outer extremity of the dog downwardly into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 25. A helical spring 3'5 is so mounted around the plunger 5 as to tend to hold the latter spaced from the magnet 32. Thus when the magnet is energized the plunger 5 and dog 35 are moved towards it, and as soon as the current flow to the magnet ceases the spring 3? returns the plunger to its initial spaced position and causes the dog 35,130 turn the ratchet wheel one tooth. In this manner the drum 2i is so turned that the resilient members 25 are successively so positionedas to'be engaged by one of the contact discs I5 by its extremity E51). g

From leads SI and 3t other leads 38 and 39 respectively extend and are connected to the motor 26. The latter, however, normally fails to rotate due to a shunt connection. The latter consists of the following: From the leads 38 a wire 40 extends to brushes M which wipe the contact ring l6; and from the lead as, between the source of current 2'1 and the lead 39, another wire 42 is provided which terminates in brushes G3 which wipe the contact ring 26. Between the brushes -33 and the lead as a resistance ie is inserted in the wire 42.

Contact between the rings I6 and 26 is normally made through the spindle l2, one of the contact discs i5, its cooperating contact member 24, and the drum 2!. However as'scon as the drum is roated by the ratchet wheel 25, plunger 56 and magnet 32 the connection between all the discs l5 and members 2G is broken and consequently the motor commences to operate and turns the spindle 52 until the extremity 65b of the next disc 55 has been brought into contact with its member 24 which has meanwhile been brought'into contacting position by the ratchet wheel '25. Then 'the shunt connection is again completed and the motor is again rendered inoperative.

The operation of the device is briefly as follows: The dial 2 is first turned so that the station whose program is then desired is being received. Then theleft hand disc 85 is turned horizontally with its extremity 55b in position to engage its contact member 2 3, when it will be found that the pointer i5a on that disc points to the wave length of the station whose signal is being received. The knob mark 2 to must then be positioned, byrotation of the knob 2 lb, to register with the indicating mark Zia Thus the drum isso turned that its contact member is in engagement with the left hand '1 disc extremity 55b. The shunt connection'iherel- The opposite side of r inbefore described is then completed and a switch 55 so arranged in the wiring as'to control the magnet, motor and shunt circuits is then closed. The discs in order from the left are then turned so that their pointers [5a register with the wave lengths on their dials of the stations whose programs are desired at fifteen minute intervals from that time, or from the next quarter-hour. Obviously when a station is to be listened to for a longer period two or more consecutive discs I5 are similarly set. Care must be taken that when the discs 55 are being turned that the dials M are held against rotation.

the ratchet wheel 25 must of course correspond to the number of disc and member contacts.

While in the foregoing the preferred embodimentv of the invention has been described-and showrnit is understood that the construction is susceptible to such alterations and modifications asfall Within the scope of the'appended claims.

. What I claim is:

1. In an arrangement of the character described, the combination of a variable condenser, ashaft'therein by therotation of which said condenser is adjusted to receive signals on different wave lengths, a spindl'e connected to said shaft so that they rotate together, a plurality of discs on said spindle which'normally rotate with the latter, a drum, contact members arranged spirally around the periphery of said drum,'each member being adapted to make an electrical connection with one of said discs; electrical time controlled means for turning said drum so that each member in turn is so positioned as to be engaged by one of said discs, and'means turning said spindle when the drum is turned so that another disc is brought into engagement with its contact member.

2. In an arrangement of the character described, the combination ofa spindle connected to. the-shaft of a variable condenser so that'the spindle and shaft turn together at uniform speed, said condenser having a dial thereon which turns with its shaft, a plurality of spaced dials on said spindle, a plurality of discs on said spindle one adjacent each of the dials thereon, each disc having an inturned portion which forms a pointer and lies adjacentthe periphery of its dial, each disc having an outwardly projecting extremity, a drum rotatably. supported substantially parallel with said spindle, a plurality of contact members extending fromits periphery in steppedrelationship to one another, each member being adapted to engage one of said disc extremities and make an electrical contact therewith, means for turning said drum. a portion of a' revolution at predetermined intervals so that another member becomes so positioned as to 'becontacted by a disc extremity, an electric motor, meansfor rotating said spindle from said motor, and a shunt circuit completed through engagement of one of said discs with their cooperating members to prevent operation ofsaid motor. e

3. In an arrangement of the character described, the combination of a spindle so connected to the shaft of a variable condenser that the spindle and shaft rotatelat the same speed, a plurality of spaced dials fixedon said spindle; a plurality of discs in frictional engagement with said spindle one adjacent each dial, each disc having an outwardly projectingextremity, a pointer ,on

each disc adjacent the periphery of its dial, a drum rotatably supported parallel with said spindle, contact members extending from the periphery of said drum each in alignment with one of said discs and adapted to make an electrical contact with the outwardly projecting extremity thereof, said members being arranged in stepped relationship to one another, means for intermittently turning said drum so that another member becomes so positioned as to be contacted by the disc opposite to it, an electric motor to turn said spindle, and a shunt circuit by which said motor is rendered inoperative when one of said members makes a contact with its disc.

4. In an arrangement of the character described, the combination of a variable condenser, a shaft therein by the rotation of which said condenser is adjusted to receive signals on difierent Wave lengths, a spindle connected to said shaft, discs on said spindle normally turning with the latter but also independently rotatable thereon, a drum, resilient contact members on said drum each adapted to engage one of said discs, a time controlled means including an electric circuit for turning said drum so that one contact member is moved into engagement with its disc, means in a separate circuit turning said spindle and a shunt connection in the circuit closed by contact of any one of said members with its disc for stopping rotation of the spindle.

5. In an arrangement of the character described, the combination of a variable condenser, a shaft therein by the rotation of which said condenser is adjusted to receive signals on different wave lengths, a spindle connected to said shaft, a plurality of dials on said shaft each having markings thereon to indicate the setting of the con-denser, a plurality of discs on said spindle one adjacent each dial, each disc having a. pointer thereon set in registry with the desired setting on the dial adjacent to it, a drum, a plurality of contact members thereon each adapted to contact one of the discs, electric time controlled means including an electric circuit for turning the drum so that one of the contact members engages its disc, means in a separate circuit for turning said spindle, and a shunt connection closed by contact of any one of said members with its disc for stopping the spindle rotation.

CHRISTIAN PETERSEN. 

